Online learning success

FIT Show’s inaugural live, online learning event was heralded a success.

FIT Show co-founder Paul Godwin kicked off the two day-programme, which ran over the period that would have marked the return of the live show at the NEC.

Hundreds of people registered and logged on for the sessions, which included a combination of live webinars and panels tackling key industry issues, delivered by experts from across the fenestration industry.

Alongside sessions covering topics such as ‘tackling mental health in construction’, technical webinars covered ‘changes to Building Regulations’, ‘the importance of performance ratings’ and ‘trends in outdoor living’ delivered by Risa, BFRC and Renson UK.

Social media was a prominent content theme within the programme, and JC Media’s David Glenwright delivered two sessions covering ‘LinkedIn for thought leaders’ and ‘how to create a visual brand presence on Instagram’. Installers were also given an insight into ‘how to work smarter, not harder’ and ‘avoiding the lost lead’ in two sessions fronted by Business Pilot’s Elton Boocock.

Lively panel debates, all hosted by Nichola Reeder of 12th Man Solutions, saw the likes of Fit for Trade’s Joanne Taylor, Tracey Jackson of Howells, Babsi’s Justin Ratcliffe and Endeavour’s Joshua Thompson discuss the growing skills gap and how to attract and retain new talent into the industry.

Gio Laporta of SmartReady and Nick Dutton of Brisant-Secure shared their thoughts on smart home technology and how to better equip installers to sell the benefits of these innovations to homeowners on the closing panel of the day. This panel, which also included Jey Jeshingham of ERA Home Security and Masterframe’s Alan Burgess, drove much engagement and debate.

FIT Show event director Nickie West said: “We couldn’t have anticipated a better response to our online event this week. The response from our community has been fantastic, from our speakers and panelists through to the trade media and all of our online attendees.

“Hundreds of people registered and logged on for the sessions; our conversion rate was over 60%, which is brilliant for an online event. We managed to utilise a large proportion of the content that we had planned to run at FIT Show.

“By running this content online we have created a vital touchpoint in our campaign as we work towards our return to FIT Show next May. We’ve created brand awareness, dialogue with our audience and served our community in the process. It was a huge success and I would like to thank everyone involved.”

The full programme will be made available via the FIT Show website.

FIT Show returns in May 2022.